Fresh Scottish Government cash offer gives “hope” of averting bin strike disruption in Highlands and beyond
Union leaders are offering fresh hope that bin strikes might be averted after Scottish ministers put extra cash on the negotiating table.
Chris Mitchell, co-convener of GMB Scotland, told BBC Radio Scotland that he was “hopeful and quietly confident” of a deal this afternoon.
But he warned there must be a credible offer of no less than five per cent to prevent action by waste workers, street cleaners and recycling centre operators
Highlands Council has refused to rule out the possibility of disruption in the region if planned strikes between 5 am on Wednesday, August 14 and end at 4.59 am on Thursday, August 22.
Highland is one of 26 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities set to walk out for the eight-day action unless an improved pay offer is made.
One of 3.2 per cent previously offered by Cosla was rejected by GMB Scotland, Unison and Unite the Union.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland, Mr Mitchell said the previous offer, despite being above the current rate of inflation, was too little to combat the cost of living concerns faced by refuse workers.
He said: “We’re hopeful of a credible offer like we saw last year from our counterparts down south.
“If that is produced today, on the table, I think we could certainly take that back to our members.”
“I don’t think we should step down for less. I think it has been a very tough eight months trying to negotiate with Cosla and the Scottish Government.
“We have given them every opportunity to try and avert any kind of strike action.
“I don’t think we’re holding anybody to ransom. We’ve been trying to negotiate since January.
“They have had plenty of time to sort this crisis out and they have waited until the last minute.
“But I am hopeful and quietly confident that we will get a deal this afternoon.”
Any offer, if accepted by union bosses, could be put to members on Monday in an effort to avert strike action.
Councillor Katie Hagmann, Cosla’s resources spokeswoman, said: “We have worked quickly and constructively with the Scottish Government to increase the funding available.
“The identification of this additional resource has been extremely challenging given the current financial context and has meant tough decisions in some key policy areas.
“We hope that an acceptable revised offer can be made as soon as possible.”
On Thursday evening, Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the increased cash being offered represented the “absolute limit of affordability” for the Scottish Government.
